__________________> Start slow. Build a base. Then explode.
> I needed to perform so that I could give my countrymen an occasion to cherish and be proud of - Ice Man> My photographs @ flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/obayedh/

Originally Posted by fwullah
Why not the other way around? All these expectations make me wanna - reminds me of 2003 World Cup.

Pilot/Bashar is not Ice Man, but Shakib is

__________________> Start slow. Build a base. Then explode.
> I needed to perform so that I could give my countrymen an occasion to cherish and be proud of - Ice Man> My photographs @ flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/obayedh/

__________________> Start slow. Build a base. Then explode.
> I needed to perform so that I could give my countrymen an occasion to cherish and be proud of - Ice Man> My photographs @ flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/obayedh/

Should've used the new kit that will be used in WC. But I bet it's not ready yet. They should be selling them right now, and making big $$. Dumb BCB. How else are the fans suppose to wear the new kit on Feb 19, which is only a month away?

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/s...ow/7505096.cms
DHAKA: You can't miss him as you drive down from the airport to the heart of the city, for he peeps at you from hoardings, billboards, banners, posters, T-shirts and even gaudily painted rickshaws. Bangladesh cricket captain Shakib Al-Hasan is the most recognized face today in the land of Kazi Nazrul Islam and Surya Sen which is all set to co-host World Cup 2011 along with India and Sri Lanka.

Indian players will not find the impish smile on Shakib's face very amusing when they land here on Thursday.

It is almost as if Shakib is having a chuckle ahead of his team's lung-opener against India, whom they had embarrassed big time in 2007.

The hype surrounding the India-Bangladesh match here is unbelievable. Even though Shakib's team is scheduled to play all their group league games at their home ground, it's the match against MS Dhoni's Men in Blue that has become a rallying point for a nation that boasts a population of 15 crore.

And Bangladeshi fans have pinned all their hopes in this versatile all-rounder, who has been in peach form of late.

The slogan on a hoarding —- Bangladesher shaan, Bangladesher praan, Shakib Al-Hasan (He is our pride, he is our life, he is Shakib Al-Hasan) sums up Bangladesh's love for their captain, who incidentally had successfully anchored the chase of India's meagre tally of 191 when the two teams had met in the last World Cup.

Shakib, of course, should consider himself lucky because had it not been for an injury, it would have been the flamboyant Mashrafe Mortaza at the helm of the Bangladesh team instead of him.

Mortaza is easily the best all-rounder that Bangladesh have produced since joining the big league, and also the most popular. Knee surgeries can be tricky and after putting both his knees under the knife, Mortaza has struggled to regain peak fitness. A breakdown just before the World Cup squad was announced, prompted the selectors to dump the pace-bowling all-rounder, whose four for 38 had virtually knocked India out of the World Cup.

Mortaza, who was confident of bouncing back quickly from his latest injury, was crestfallen at being left out. He took it so badly that he has been living like a recluse ever since. Fans in his hometown of Narail were so incensed that they called a hartaal (bandh) in the Khulna division.

If a Bangladesh Cricket Board official is to be believed, a few days back Mortaza at least started retuning important calls. He has also 'assured' the BCB that he would show up at the Shere-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, near Dhaka, on Saturday to cheer for the Bangla Tigers against India.

Even if Mortaza fails to turn up, Shakib and his boys will not be short on support as every seat in the 25,000 capacity stadium has been sold out. And rest assured, there will be as many fans in the vicinity of the stadium to lend their voice to every Bangladesh appeal to make the atmosphere more electric.

The organizers have promised a colourful opening ceremony and there is a rumour that Shakira may put in a surprise appearance, but make no mistake, everyone here is waiting for the real 'whacka, whacka' on Saturday when the action begins.

I would take Nafees over Nayeem. Our batting sucks, we need another batsman and Nafees is a much better player than Nayeem. Besides, we already have 5 bowlers without nayeem.

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"Leaders aren't born, they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work. And that's the price we'll have to pay to achieve that goal, or any goal" -Vince Lombardi

Just wondering, can we beautify the first post to make it look like a match thread of a World Cup game, and the first one ever to be hosted by Bangladesh. If BCB can renovate the Mirpur stadium like they did, I'm sure folks in BC can also renovate this thread to look its part

In all seriousness, I can't wait for this match to get started. I also hope the expectations of people will become a little more realistic after this loss to Pakistan. Anyways, GO BANGLADESH GO